UF Offense Finally Found Its Rhythm

Saturday

Florida's offense was stuck in the mud without four-wheel drive - just like last week against Miami of Ohio. There wasn't a chain or a rope or a tow in sight. Worse yet, the Gators had a dead battery.

Mediocrity was settling in on the Florida offense Saturday at the Swamp against South Florida, making itself right at home next to a growing sense of unease. Another 10 games of this, the near-heat stroked throng of 90,612 mostly Gator fans were thinking?

The eighth-ranked Gators, 2-0, had more blues than rhythm in the first half of their 38-14 victory over new coach Skip Holtz and the unranked Bulls, 1-1.

But halfway through the third quarter, with the score 7-7, running back Jeff Demps, the fastest man in the NCAA, jump-started the offense with a 62-yard touchdown sprint.

That gave quarterback John Brantley and the offense the juice to start turning things around finally, after more than six quarters of football this season.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins returned a punt 30 yards, setting up Mike Gillislee's 4-yard run for a 21-7 lead. And defensive end Justin Trattou jumped in with a 35-yard interception return of B.J. Daniels, who was pushed backwards and scrambling as is his custom and his immense ability.

All of a sudden, less than 5 minutes after Demps high-tailed it into the end zone, Florida had iced down a blistering hot victory - Meyer thanked the fans for sticking it out and being loud - that sends them into SEC country on Saturday at Tennessee.

Maybe the Gators were just waiting for a spark, a jolt of momentum. A high-powered offense that some feared was lost had suddenly found its way, albeit with a major assist from the defense's four interceptions and against a talented Bulls team playing a little out of its element. The Gator offense has been searching to establish its identity, and we all know it's definitely not going to be the same as it was with Tim Tebow around.

With the offensive line at last opening holes in the second half, having outfoxed the Bulls in halftime adjustments, Demps and company ran for 209 yards after picking up only 42 in the first half.

"I think you saw some play-action and you saw us handing the ball off to some pretty good backs, and the offensive line trying to control it,'' Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "That's kind of what I think we are. I still don't know.''

"We're a little more traditional than we're used to,'' Meyer said. "I think we're a more blue-collar team. We've got to find a way to bang out 4 yards here, 5 yards there and bang, take a shot (with Brantley).''

Against two non-conference teams, it's looking like the Gators want to play smash-mouth football. Then again, Brantley is quite capable and was mostly sharp, connecting with seven different receivers for 172 yards and two touchdowns, although Meyer said the receivers need more work.

But Meyer's focus on the second half the offensive line enjoying pushing the Bulls around might be coach-speak, maybe taking a little heat off Brantley, starting for the first time this season.

Despite the flurry of points, Meyer acknowledged that the offense remains a work in progress.

"It's different, and it's different for me,'' said Meyer, the guru of the spread option attack. "We haven't run that style in a while.''

Florida's offense came to life, but not until the final quarter and a half. The second-half turnaround makes you wonder where it was the first game and a half.

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